TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KIBALE PRIMATES FOREST
Local Communities around Kibale Moist Forest
The people living around the park are mainly Batoro and Bakiga. The Batoro are indigenous to the area while the Bakiga are immigrants from the densely populated southwestern part of Uganda. The Batoro take pride in the cultural heritage of the Toro Kingdom, a scion of the ancient kingdoms of Africa's Great Lakes region. The Omukama (king) and the kingdom embody the traditional and cultural values of the Batoro. The Bakiga immigrants still maintain their tradition and culture as expressed in their folklore, dance, and language. The park plays an important role in the lives of the local people who enjoy a variety of benefits from the forest. The forest provides them with many traditional forest products such as wild coffee, food, fuelwood, building materials and herbal medicines.
TOURISTIC FEATURES AROUND THE PARK
Kanyanchu River Camp and the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Kanyanchu is the hub fortourism activities in the central part of the park. The main attraction is the opportunity to track chimpanzee in their rainforest home. A community of chimpanzee has been habituated since 1991 and the chances of locating the good indeed (over 90%). Note that the park is only acc foot; there are no motorable tracks open to tourists.
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience allows accompany Kibale's researchers and habituators as t chimpanzee during their daily activities, thereby ge1 used to human presence without altering their natural I You can expect to see t he chimps de-nesting (com their nocturnal nests) between 05.30-06.30, before them during the day until they create new nests and the night around 19.00. The Habituation Experience runs during tourist low season months (March, April, May and November
Primates walk (Chimpanzee tracking)
The most popular of Kibale's walks starts from the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre at 08.00 and 15.00 and lasts 2-3 hours. Ch are the primate most sought after by visitors, but you sl look out for the black and white co lobus, red tailed m( grey cheeked mangabey. Your guides will point out pittas and other bird species and will explain the tradit of plant species within the forest. This walk is for six pE group. Advance booking is essential during peak sea:
Forest Hike
This seasonal 12km hike is restricted to the dry SE mid November-February and June-September. It eXI park's diverse habitats including tropical rainforesl forest, swamp and grassland. You will have the chan a wide variety of birds a nd primates and perhaps al and bush buck. The walk begins at 08.00 from Kanyanc Centre and ends at the elephant wallow around 14 drinks and snacks. Pre-booking is recommended.
Children's Activities
Children of 12 years and below who are not all owe, the chimps or go into the forest can instead enjoy ec forest walks of 1-2 hours duration followed by creative Parents can enjoy their forest walks in the knowledge that their children are occupied in a worthwhile activity with tarined ranger guides. The children visit the forest and learn about the ecosystem and its inhabiutants through short interesting walks, games and creative activities which inclkude pond dipping, cynotype, photography and batik making.
Sebitoli Forest
Sebitoli is located 12km from Fortportal town on the Kampala-Fortportal road. this part of the forest offers excellent bird and primate viewing in moist evergreen forest with a semi-closed canopy of stratified tree crowns.
Cultural Heritage and Nature Trail
Reffered to as the former Long Distance Walk, an adventerous visitor can follow a 2-6 days trail through the forest. the full walk starts or finishes at either Kanyanchu or Sebitoli. The route explores the forest during the day, emerging in the evening to sleep in community-run campsites near the villages of Kikoni, Nyaibanda and Nayakalongo. These provide the opportunity to meet the local people and gain insights into their Batoro and Bakiga cultures. Porters can be hired at the trailheads to carry equipment. Groups of up to 6 people can undertake the walk. However Pre-booking is essential for effective organization of the walk.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Bigodi wetalnd sanctuary is situated just outside the park in Magombe swamp. This is known for a wide range of wildlife that includes primates, such as chimapnzees, red colobus, black and white colobus monkey and other mammals such as siattunga, bushbuck, otter and mongoose. the wetland is also home to 138 bird species. These can be seen during guided walks from viewing paltforms and a boardwalk trail.
The sanctuary is a community-run initiative aimed at conserving the unique biodiversity and environmental values of the wetland.
Kihingani Wetland
Guided walks, similar to those at Magombe, are conducted in the Kihingani wetland, just outside the national park near Sebitoli.
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